Pittsford Mendon started out last year as the favorite to earn a repeat in Class B, they stayed at the top of the rankings throughout the season and were overwhelming favorites to win big at States, and they indeed met all expectations with a 41 point margin at Canton. 2015 seems to be even more of the same as the Viking ship is sailing even more alone at the top than at the start of 2014.

Before we annoint PM as the Class B champion again though, the Vikings first have to get out of a tough Section 5 first. Last year even with #2 and #4 ranked Brighton and Honeoye Falls-Lima in their group, the Vikings won the S5-B crown without much trouble. Both HFL and Brighton should again be right behind PM, so the top 2015 Viking quartet of Isaac Goodman, Griffin Hess, Henry Burton, and Nathan Lawler will get a challenge out west. Coleman Roach and Jackson Tate lead an HFL squad that is rated #2 and Paul Dellinger and Drew Schmitt lead Brighton.

There is life outside of Section 5 in Class B. Maine-Endwell has everyone back from its 7th place States squad for a run at the S4-B title, and the Spartans are expected to be among the top teams at States with frontrunner Dan Schaffer again battling for the individual crown after finishing 3rd last year. Brewster also has much of last year's squad back for a run at replacing Tappan Zee as the champs in S1-B, and Bear frontrunner Kevin Hazelwood should be among the top guys again at States. Section 3B champ Carthage was 5th at States in 2014, and if it can add more depth behind States champ Noah Affolder and his brother Sam, the Comets could also get on a streak. And though States 9th place team Cornwall lost top guy Aidan Doyle to graduation, the Dragons have a solid pack that could be dangerous if they get more top level development.

Reigning States champ Noah Affolder is still only a junior, and all routes to the 2015 throne must go through the Carthage leader. Two guys who are back from top 10 finishes at least year's States are Maine-Endwell's Dan Schaffer and Hamburg's Peter Rindfuss.

So Pittsford-Mendon is again the big favorite at States, but what will B wil B.

Carthage's Noah Affolder is in celebration mode as he takes the victory in the States Class B race.